The Division is committed to challenging stigma and misinformation about addiction through groundbreaking psychiatric epidemiological research focusing on addictive behavior. Our research agenda is driven, in part, by the Syndrome Model of Addiction, an overarching theoretical framework proposed by Division researchers to help explain the trajectory of addictive behavior. Our primary research areas of interest include:

  • Psychiatric comorbidity of DUI offenders
  • Psychiatric comorbidity and addiction
  • Epidemiology of gambling- and gaming-related problems
  • Substance use disorders
  • Addiction treatment and treatment outcomes, including relapse
  • Addiction among vulnerable populations
  • Theories and models of addiction
  • Etiology of addiction

The Division’s research represents worldwide collaborations. Our current research is funded through a variety of private and public agencies, businesses, and foundations. In the spirit of Open Science, the Division publishes its current and past funder information in real time. We are also committed to making science available to the public. The Transparency Project is the Division’s freely-available public data repository for privately-funded datasets, specifically related to addictive behavior (e.g., alcohol misuse).

We have been a leader in advancing theory-driven approaches to the study and treatment of addiction. Our faculty have published a large portfolio of scholarly publications that are advancing how the world understands, discusses, and treats addiction. We have produced more than 200 publications to date, including peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, reports, and books. Division research also stimulates and guides innovative teaching and training programs and educational materials for a diverse audience of learners.